Randolph-Macon College student Mary Ellis ’17 is a biology major and chemistry minor who is following a pre-veterinary track. During January Term (J-term) 2016, she participated in an internship at Woodside Equine Clinic in Ashland, Virginia. Ellis, a member of RMC’s Pre-Health Society, interned under the guidance of experts, two of whom are Yellow Jackets.

Photos: Woodside Equine Center

Inspiration
Ellis grew up on a farm in Beaverdam, Virginia, raising and showing a variety of animals, and has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was in elementary school.

“My mom used to tell me about her experiences as a veterinary assistant,” recalls Ellis. “She also shared with me the stories of James Herriot, author of All Creatures Great and Small. I look up to him.”

Perfect Opportunity
At Woodside, Ellis discovered the perfect internship opportunity.

“I found Woodside online and talked to my RMC advisor, Biology Professor Traci Stevens, about it,” she explains. “She helped me get in contact with the clinic. From there I did the rest myself, contacting Dr. Meg Hammond, an associate veterinarian who is in charge of internships at the clinic, and securing an interview.”

Ellis, who knew little about equine medicine before her internship, worked under the guidance of Hammond, as well as Dr. Jonathan Hirsch ’93, a veterinarian, and Roberta Warren ’06, senior ambulatory assistant. Ellis helped by restraining, walking, and jogging horses, as well as grooming and feeding them. She also observed Dr. Hirsch as he performed surgery. Recently, she watched as surgery was performed on a young gelding suffering from a fracture in one of its splint bones.

“The fracture was causing pain and inflammation, and some of the fractured pieces were close to the suspensory ligament, a vital part of a horse’s leg,” explains Ellis. “This is a fairly common injury in horses. Dr. Hirsch removed the bone fragments, used a rasp to smooth down the remaining portion of bone, and then closed the incision. The horse should make a full recovery.”

Mentorship
Hammond says mentorship is integral to a successful internship experience.

“As mentors we aim to provide an accurate, realistic view of a career in equine medicine in order to help students make good decisions as to whether the field is a good fit for them,” she says. “It was great to see Mary’s confidence grow throughout the month. Initially her role was to observe elective and emergency appointments and surgeries, both at the clinic and on the road. As her comfort level increased, she became more involved, assisting the veterinarians and technicians in case management and patient care. This type of exposure to a client services-based medical profession helped teach Mary responsibility, communication skills and team-building skills—and it showed her the scope of what the profession entails, pros and cons alike.”

Hirsch majored in classics and minored in biology at RMC. He earned a master’s degree in biology at VCU, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, and performed a Large Animal Surgery residency at the University of California, Davis. At Woodside, he performs surgeries, manages critical care emergencies, and performs lameness and performance exams.

“I presented Mary with as many interesting cases as possible during her internship, giving her a window into what it’s like to be a referral equine veterinarian,” he says. Hirsch, who has shared his expertise on campus by meeting with RMC students interested in medical careers, says, “I like telling my story to students and stressing to them that a well-rounded liberal arts education can lead to any career path. This is evidenced by my own story: I majored in classics and become an equine surgeon.”

Yellow Jacket Connections
Warren, who majored in biology at RMC, says, “Interning with us was a great eye-opener for Mary. She went out on calls with us, helped us with healthy and sick horses, and saw firsthand that even though animals are our patients, we have to know how to communicate well with their owners.” Asked what it was like to have three Yellow Jackets working alongside each other, Warren says, “It’s approximately a decade between each of us attending RMC, so it’s neat to see how things have changed between our years at the college,” says Warren. “But some things stay the same, and that’s good too. We all share Yellow Jacket pride. And Mary and I have had some of the same biology professors!”

Ellis, who serves as vice president of fellowship for RMC’s Alpha Phi Omega, Theta Omega chapter, plans to attend veterinary school.

“I am primarily interested in large animal medicine,” she says. “My internship reinforced my desire to be a veterinarian, and has also helped me realize that I may specialize in surgery or internal medicine.”

RMC Internships
J-term internships offer a real-world setting for connecting academic learning with the workplace. RMC’s Edge Career Center and dedicated faculty assist students in finding the perfect internship opportunity.

The Edge is an intensive four-year program that prepares students for life after college. Located within The Edge Career Center, it gives students a competitive advantage in the job market or graduate-school admissions process. Workshops, internships, one-on one advising, a career and networking Boot Camp, and a host of other resources ensure that students who graduate from RMC are lifelong learners who can think critically and adapt to new situations.

More than 130 students participated in J-term 2016 internships, shadowing professionals and gaining experience at a wide variety of businesses and non-profits, including: Genworth Financial, Bon Secours Richmond Health Systems, Goodwill of Central Virginia, and McGuireWoods. RMC’s Bassett Internship program offers academic credit and connects students with tailor-made internships to explore a wide range of career fields in various locations. Students can also choose from a variety of paid or volunteer internship opportunities.